F1's Radical New Rules for 2013

Return with us to the thrilling days of the small-displacement turbocharged 4-cylinder.

>> Back in the 1980s, BMW's turbo 1.5-liter 4-cylinder F1 engine was legendary, putting out 1300 bhp in qualifying. The new engines for 2013 won't be as potent.

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Grand Prix racing will enter a new era in 2013 when turbo engines return for the first time in 25 years, in conjunction with other rule changes designed to make for a more sustainable F1 future.

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The push for a return to turbos began under former FIA President Max Mosley, who had long argued that the rules should encourage engine manufacturers and teams to focus R&D resources on technology that had relevance to road cars.

The theory was that not only would it be advantageous for the sport to be seen as politically correct, it would also help to ensure that engine makers could continue to justify their expensive involvements. The successive withdrawals of Honda, BMW and Toyota between December 2008 and November 2009 suggested that Mosley was right to be concerned.

At the end of 2010 a definitive set of rules was finally agreed on, and from 2013 everyone will use 4-cylinder 1.6-liter engines. The FIA aims to maintain a power output similar to that of the current engines, but with a reduction of 35 percent in fuel consumption. The rules package includes what the governing body calls "extensive" energy management and recovery systems. In an attempt to keep a lid on costs, drivers will have just five engines apiece for the whole of 2013, a figure that will drop to four in 2014.

The existing engine makers—Cosworth, Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault—have been party to the discussions and have clearly accepted that the small turbo represents a good solution, although Ferrari's enthusiasm has been a little muted.

Parity with road-car technology appears to be key, and that clearly excites the mainstream manufacturers. The hope is that others will also enter the F1 fray, with VW/Audi on top of the list of likely contenders.

One downside is the sound the new engines are likely to make. The current V-8s might not produce the same sort of music as V-12s of the past, but it's still part of the sport's magic. Even F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has expressed his fears that the flat sound of the new turbos might be lacking in appeal.